Even Wild Riders Wear Dirt Bike Helmets
Born To Be Wild
Most road bikers may have the song, Born to be Wild, as their anthem when they hit the road. Many of them don’t wear helmets. They feel more freedom on the open road without them. But it is a rare sight to see dirt bike riders hurling their muddied ponies over obstacles wearing dirt bike helmets.
It is perceptive to imagine that the more conventional and popular pursuit of long distance riding on heavier 1100cc motorbikes is safer than dirt bike riding but other than alertness and stamina, it requires less skill and wit than the so-called junior sport of dirt bike riding, usually the preserve of younger, agile riders. The younger they are, the wilder they get, right?
Dirt Bike Riding In A Nutshell
Dirt bike riding is also known as motocross, or as off-road motorcycle riding. Since the turn of the twentieth century, this sport has evolved from much slower, safer motorcycle trials in the United Kingdom. Today, it is a highly demanding and physical support best enjoyed by maniacs in hell-weather conditions. In the nineteen-fifties the sport’s governing body turned to the continent and hosted the inaugural European Championship, pioneering the use of a 500cc engine.
A few years later, motocross went global and a World Championship event became the sport’s pinnacle. In the next decade, the sport matured and settled into a 250cc, a two-stroke event with the heavier bikes relegated to the specialist, exhibition status. Speaking of exhibition events, dirt bike riding was only introduced into the USA in 1966 when Swedish champion, Torsten Hallman rode against the US’s top TT riders in an exhibition match in California.
Have You Ever Seen Dirt Bike Riders Without Their Helmets On?
Rocky Mountain ARV.MC makes the important point regarding achieving maximum performance for Motocross riders. Claiming to be avid supporters of the sport, they argue that no rider will be able to perform optimally without wearing the right gear, particularly the items designed to protect riders. This is a good point because riders won’t be able to focus on finishing on the podium while being preoccupied about their safety. Fully clothed with kidney belts, elbow guards, neck braces and, most importantly, the dirt bike helmets, they have the freedom to concentrate on their race.
Women Riders Now argue emphatically that wearing helmets is the most important safety exercise to be practiced by their targeted female riders. They stress an emphasis on quality because after a fall or accident, the helmet not showing any external damage, the inner shell may be weakened and lose its ability to protect the rider’s cranium.
Mixing And Matching, The Bikes, Their Riders And Their Helmets
Distractingly perhaps, Women Riders Now suggest to their potential buyers that they have a good variety of helmets in different colors which may appeal to their female, fashion-conscious riders, taking their feet off the pedal for a moment regarding safety matters. They place their riders’ eyes back on the safety-first whiteboard by advising riders to concentrate on trying out as many helmets as possible in order to find the perfect fit. A loose-fitting helmet will not only be extremely uncomfortable but dangerous too. The helmet should be a comfortable fit without any pressure points.
Most riders will be focused on performance and it may seem obvious to some that they will be prepared to pay top dollar, in other words, source the most expensive equipment, particularly the helmets, in order to maximize their performances. Motosport.com argues, however, that this is a false perception and that the safest equipment is not necessarily expensive. It is a contentious point because the quality is never cheap. Their sales pitch, however, focuses on customization where what works for one rider, or several, may not necessarily work for others.
Safety First In A Dangerous Sport
The emphasis for all riders, whether professional or recreational, should always be on safety and protecting the most vulnerable exposed part of the biker’s anatomy, the head. The emphasis should be on finding motocross helmets with safety as its most prominent feature. Most manufacturers argue that helmets are specifically designed with safety features. The helmet also remains the most important article of safety for the dirt bike rider.
Assuming that the bike is already in the garage, the first item on the novice rider’s shopping list should be the helmet. Interestingly, BTO Sports proffer that boots are more important, however, Motosport correctly returns to the head-first argument. While bones may heal over time, the head will sustain major injuries which may never heal. Some of these injuries, the sport has shown, are fatal.
Motosport says that the helmet will never be inexpensive, indicating price ranges over $100, and should be replaced every five years. Most retailers and experts speak with one voice; the helmet is the most important tool in the dirt bike rider’s extensive toolbox. Think Batman or the US military for a moment. The most effective helmets are durable and made of fiberglass, carbon fiber and other composite materials.
Ride Like The Wind
But Kevlar is the toughest ingredient used in the manufacture and design of dirt bike helmets. It may very well be the most expensive, but surely your life is more valuable than taking off like a bat out of hell, riding like the wind and launching yourself into oblivion. See specs & today’s price on Amazon.
